Which medication would most likely relieve symptoms in a patient with left-heart failure?

Furosemide (Lasix) is the medication that would most likely relieve symptoms in a patient with left-heart failure. This medication is a loop diuretic, which works by promoting the excretion of sodium and water through the kidneys. In patients with left-heart failure, fluid often backs up into the lungs, leading to symptoms such as pulmonary congestion, dyspnea, and orthopnea. By reducing the volume of fluid in the body, furosemide effectively alleviates these symptoms, improving the patient’s ability to breathe and overall comfort.

In contrast, atenolol is a beta-blocker that primarily helps in managing heart rate and reducing myocardial oxygen demand, which may not directly relieve acute symptoms of congestive heart failure. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is an antibiotic combination used to treat infections, not heart failure, so it would not provide any symptom relief in this context. Hydrocodone/guaifenesin syrup combines a narcotic cough suppressant with an expectorant; while it may help alleviate cough associated with fluid overload, it does not address the underlying issue of fluid retention in left-heart failure. Thus, furosemide is clearly the most appropriate choice for addressing the symptoms associated